Folding machine



July 28, 1925. 1,547,348

E. D. RADER FOLDING MACHINE Filed June l5, 1920 1K1 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 28, 1925.

E. D. RADER FOLDING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1920 ll Sheets-Sheet, 4

Ju1y2s, 1925. 1,547,348

` E. D. RADER FOLDING MACHINE iled J l. D. RADER FOLDING MACHINE Filed June' l5, 1920 1]. Sheets-Sheet 6 E. D. RADER FOLDING MAGHNE WTNES E. D. RADER FOLDING MCHl'N E July 28, 1925.

ll 5heets-Sheet 8 Filed mie/15, 1920 July 2S, 1925. 1,547,343

' v E. D. RADER FOLDING MACHINE v v 11 Sheets-Shea?, 9

med Jane 15, 1920 Ju1y28, 1925.

E.' D. RAIDER FOLDING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1920 11 Sheets-Sheet lO w rlmlkmmllll www@ WITNESSES uy fag, i925. 1,547,348

, E. D. RAD ER FOLDING MACHINE 11 Sheets-'Sheet ll Filed June 15 1920 Patented July 28, 1925. l

UNIT-Eo STATES Parser porri EARL D. BADER, -'14 NEW YORKQN. Y., 3S/SIGNOR TG FGLDER NEW YORK, N, Y., A CRPORTDN F NEW' YORK.

.corre-ANY, on

FOLDING MACHNE.

Application filed June i; 1920. Serial' Eo. l'?.

. York, count)P and Stateof hlewA York7 have ais vinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Machines, ot which the following is a specification.

. This. invention relates vto foldiiugY machines in which sheets are' icd from a suity able source, such orcxa-nlple as a pile hold# ingv support ortable, tovsuitable folding mechanism Where they' are folded. The primary object ofl my inventionis' to provide an improved construction and arrangement 'of parts in a machine of thischaracter whereby l a more positive control of the sheets is seeurcd while at the same timey making it possible to eliminate certain parts which `are usually considered to be indispensable in machines of this character as heretofore constructed. Another object or". the present invention is to provide improved sheet-feeding I and foldingl meehai'iism including a stationary sheet-support, sheetgripp-ingmeans travelling in a closed path and adapted to close on the forwardly presented edge of a sheet on said sheet-support and to drag it into position to be folded by suitable sheet-folding means arranged along 'the path of said shect-gripping means. For this purpose, the invention contemplates suitable means for operating,r the sheet-grip! ping means and engaging the forward edge vof said sheet for registering it with respect to said shet-foldingmeans. One of the objects of thepresent invention is. to provide i an improved gripper construction, a suitable carriage therefor, and vsimple and eiheient means for operatingsaid grippers' duringv the sheet conveyingmovements of the earrage. Another oblect ishto provide 'an im proved ,arrangement'ef onveyers, folding blades and `blades Vmaybe made to. cooperate directly with the grippers for folding asheet as the folded edge. ofsaid sheet is delivered to the zgfrippers, or whereby a .sheet may be de- .liveredpfrom one set of grippers toanother Set of grippers .vithout folding. operation.,

grppers whereby said foldingv from below of @ther and further objects of invention will appear vin the speciication and be pointed out in 'the appended claims7 reference being had to the accompanying drawings which. exen'ipliiy my inventionina preferred einb odiment. l I

Figure l .is a top pian view of'a 'preferred embodiment of my im/'ei'itien5;` u

Figure 2 is a side elevation and'section of vthe same taken on the line 2 2, Figure l;

Figure same;

'Figure 4 isv a fragmentary top plan viewis a front elevation' of the' and section corresponding to the line esv .Figure i6;

Y,Fleure 5 1s a longitudinal section on the Figure 6 is a top plan view on'an scale of parts shown in .Figure ligt' yFigure 7 is a View in elevation from the right side of the lower portion of Figure 1,' showing the delivery tapes; line M,

enlarged Figur-e 8 is a section on Figure2; l l

Figure 9 is a top pian view of the carriage and gripper mechanism of the first and second conveyers in transfer relation 'come spending to Figure 2l, parte being shown in section; i Y

igure l0 is a fragmentary sideelevatioi. or inner carriage guides shown in igure 9; (the folding cam being removed) fece View of the rame, cams and;

Figure ll is a view similar to Figure 10,

with the fold control cam in positiong.

Figure 12 is a top plan View of Figui@ l1; Figiue 13 is a sectiony on the line l3-13,

Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary side elevation inside elevation of "the frame ad jacent the delivery conveyors, parte` lining shown 'in section;

Figure 17 1s a section on Figure 3, parte being shown in plans the frame according to Fig- Sli g Figure 19 is embodiment Figure 18 is a side elevation corresponding to the line 18-18, Figure 17, parts being shown in section; I

a side'elevation of one of the grippers, parts being broken away and parts shown 1n section;

Figure 2O is a View similar to Figure 19, showing the relation of these parts to the front gage or sheet stripping lingers;

Figure 2'1 is a side elevation of cooperating grippers of two successiveconveyors at the instant the ,folded sheet is transferred from one to the other, parts being 'shown in section;

Figure 22 is a perspective view of the several parts at the first fold mechanism, parts being shown in section;

Figure 23 is a combined side elevation andsection of a modified gripperconstruction;

Figure 24C 'is a longitudinal section of an. other vembodiment of my invention, parts being shown in side elevation;

Figure 25 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of a portion of the gripper mechanism, parts being shown in section; and

Figure 26 is a rear elevation of Figure 25. y

According tothe embodiment of my in 4i'e'ntion shown in Figures 1l to 23 inclusive, a'table or support 1 is preferably provided with a top plate 2 which projects forwardly over the conveyor to be presently'referred to, said top'plate being provided with notches 3 (see Figure 6). According to the present of my invention, the foregoing parts are arranged at the top and rear of side frames 4 and 5 shown best in Figures 1, 3 and 6. As shown in Figures 1 and 4:, the side frame $1. is provided near its top with a continuousguiding groove or track 6, while according to Figures-tand 6, the side frame 5 Vis provided with a" continuous guiding groove or track 7. Within the grooves 6 and 7 travel the supporting rollers of a 'gripper carriage which is preferably constructed (lli or other grooves .of

sii'nilarly to that shown in Figure 9 of the drawings. Thus, a description of one of these carriages wlil suiiice for all. Referring to Figures 9 and 21said carriage comprises oppositely disposed Sme-trames Srconnected by a transverse bar 9, each of said side frames 8 being provided with carrying roll-V ers 10 which run in the grooves 6-and7 similar nature thereto. Secured to the cross bar 9 are a plurality ofn bearinghrackets v11 (see F iguie 9) within which is journalled'a gripper shaft 12. Said gripper shaft is provided on one end with'a` bevel pinion 13 which meshes with a bevel segment 111 carried by a lever arm 15 which is pivotally mounted on a stud 16 and adapt! ed to be oseillated by a cam arm 17 which carries acani roller 18. A spring .cod 19 which carries a spring 2Q interposed. hv

element 33 which is tween the head of said rod and a fixed lug 21, is pivotally connected at 22 with the cam arm 17. Said spring tends to hold the grippers in closed position. Suitable means for propelling the carriage along its path of movement are provided as follows. Journalled in the side frames -il and 5 are parallel shafts 23 and 24, the rear shaft 23 being provided with laterally spaced sprockets 25 and the front shaft 24`bcing 'provided with laterally spaced sprockets 26.. Running'on the sprockets 25'an'd 26 are 'chains 27 which are connected in driving relation to said carriage by means of a connecting link 28 (see Figure 1) on eachend of the carriage. As .shown best in Figures 19 and 20, the cross bar 9 carries a transverse series Aof blocks 29 which are provided on their outer extremities with gripping elements 30. Mounted on the scillatory'shaft l2 are a plurality of movable gripping elements 251 which have their outer ends deflected so as to conforlnto the gripping elements 30.' ln the embodiment shown in Figures 19 .and V20, va leaf spring 32 which' is secured tothe movable jaw 31 of the gripper, carries a gripping adapted to yieldably clamp the sheets to the fixed gripper elements 30. Extending longitudinally ofthe conveyor and partly around the forward shaft 24, is a -web or plate present instance trailing portion of the sheet which is being fed by the conveyer. A similar web or plate 35 (sec Figure 5) is provided below the lower run of the uppermost conveyor for a similar purpose, the latter web or plate, however, being provided with a slot 3(3'for accommodating the folding blade at the first fold. Extending upwardly and part way around the sprocket 25, according to Figure, is 'a cam track 43 which is suitably disposed to engage the cam roller 18 on that end of each gripper mechanism. The gripper mechanism is ,thus opened licl'ow and permitted to close above upon the forward edge of `a sheet which is being presented on theistationary table or support l. Suitable and cilicient means for locating the sheet at the first fold are provided by a ront gage, which in the present embodiment7 is provided in the foi-iuI of a plurality of stripper fingers 37. Said stripper fingers' 37 are spaced along a transverse bar 38 swhich is carried'by laterally spaced supports 39 which have threaded connections with the longitudinal rods 40. As shown in Figures 1 and 5,the longitudinal rods 40- are cooperatively connected by a, transverse shaft 41 to which they are geared and one of the rods l() is provided withA a handl crank 42 for effecting the adjustment of the stripper fingers 37'together with the gripper releasing cam e3, which is mounted on the left hand support 39; It` will be understood that amenever1t the cam roller 18 Sli which in the. 1s adapted to support thev (See Figure 9) runs over the cam 43, the is registered in the manner pointed out above shaft 12 will be oscillated in its bearings in a in connection with .they first fold. The seeldirection to open the gripper jaws 31-. At ond folding blade 54, as it moves downwardthe beginning of this movement, the yieldly7 is adapted to impart a second ,parallel able gripping elements 33 effect a yieldable fold to the sheet as it forces the foldededge 70 pressure on the sheet as it is brought into through a slot or opening 60'in the plate or engagement lwith thev stripping fingers 37. table 6l. This operation is timed .in such a l Said sheet is therefore registered by having way as to place the folded edge between the the front edge straightened as itis stripped closing jaws of grippers 29, 3l which are from the grippers. Keyedtorock shaft 44 moved in their orbit by a third conveyer 70 between the upperv and lower runs of the upcomprising laterally spaced chains 62 which' per conveyer 27 areV the laterallyspaced are driven by sprockets 63 and 64 keyed to knifey blade supporting arms 45 which carry shafts 65 and 66.'A Should it be desired to a folding blade 46. As shown in Figure 22, omit the. second fold, the once folded sheet i the folding blade 46 is provided with lateralmay be transferred lfrom the second to the 80 ly spaced notches or recesses 47 correspondthird conveyers by rendering the second fold.- ing to the rippers 30, 33 on the sheet ing blade 54 inoperative and by adjusting conveyers. t will appear from Figures 5 the relative positions of the second and -third and 22 that as the folding blade 46 is moved conveyers so as to bring the grippers on the downwardly, the sheet S is creased and its second conveyor whiclrho'ld the folded edge 85 '.oldededge passed through the slot 36 sepaof the sheet into` suitable position to releaseb rating plates 35 and delivered between the said folded edge at the same instant that the closing Jaws of the grippers 30, 33 which are grippers of the third conveyer are brought,

brought. into suitable transfer position by luto position to grip the fffolded edge. The.v

the second conveyer 47. The second con- `relations of the several parts for this opera- 9.0 veyer 47 comprises laterally spaced chains tion are shown in Figures 9 and 21. For

A mounted on sprockets '48 and 49 which are this purpose, a cam 67 is provided lon the inkeyed to shafts 50 and 51. As shown in 'Figner face of side frame 5 yto open the upperv "ure 5, a camftrack 43b extends upwardly grippers whereas on the inner face ofthe oparound the rear edgeof sprocket 48 and for- `posite side frame 4, a cam 68 is provided .95"

, on each gripper mechanism strikes the cam pers are released therefrom. 'It will-be un-i wardly-to a point adjacent to the folding which has previously openedthe lower gripblade 46 in its lowered position. It will be pers and permits them to close again onthe understood'therefore, that as the cam roller 18 folded edge of the sheet as the upper griptrack 43b the grippers are thrown into open derstood by an inspection of Figure 21` thatA y position, as shown at the right end of the secthe yieldable clamping pressure of the upond conveyer according to Figure 5. As said per 'grippers is gradually kreleased while the 'cam roller. leaves the forward end of said similar pressure of the lower grippers is track bar, the grippers are permitted to close gradually applied. y

'as shown at the left end of said second convey- As'shown in Figure 10, vthe cam 68 termi- 105 er according to Figure 5. From the foregoing nates at a point which willcause the lower description, it will be understood that the grippers to close before they reachthe rear*- endless' chains 47 of the second conveyor, turning pointof the third conveyor.. Suitmove the sheet-gifippi'ng means continuously able andefiicient means for modifying this over a closed path including an upper run cain to open the grippers at a somewhat extending toward the folding blade in its later time to correspond to the folding oplowered positionand a lower run extending eration, may be provided by thecam plate in the opposite direction. Extending be- 69 which is provided with a lug 70 to adaptr'ueen the upper and lower runs of conveyor it to be secured Iin position by a bolt 71 which f 47 'is a rock shaft 52 to which are keyed passes through the side frame 4, as shown inf-.115 lever-,arms 53` which carry av second folding Figuresll, 1 2 and 13.*'

. blade 54 having a construction suistantiay- According to Figure 5, the third conveyor"v similar to that already described. As the is moving a. once folded sheet through its. grippers of the second conveyer are moved lower run above a sheet supportin plate rearwardly alongr the lower run of its travel, or table 72. After sairlsl'icct is co veyed the folded edge of the sheet is' brought to the left, according to Figure 5', it is i against thev stripping fingers 55 at a'pproxi- 'moi-'ed upwardly and around a series'of latmately the saine instant that said grippers erally spaced guide strips 73 o-n-toan upare opened by a cam 56 which is preferably per level below the leftl end of a transverse rigidly connected to the stripper fingers conveyor according to Figure 3.'. Said trans,- and adjusted therewith by means of threadverse vc'onveyer .comprises 'con'veyer 'chains ed rods 57 which are geared together by a 74moi1nted on sprockets 75 and 76 which are transverse shaft 58 and operated by a crank keyed. to shafts .77- and `73. Arrangedjbe- -As the. folded edge of the sheet is tween the upper' andlower runs-of 'the third Y brought against thestripper fingers 55, it conveyer isa third folding blade 79 which is -i i ven `ried by suituhle lever 4 mseigeee Asuch .that it is-uduptod to import a fold portion providedwvith on arcuate slot' 118 (see Fig- 7 el: and A'thence fd ltion between conveyor 97 to a cam yoke .119, the c-.un plates 117 and transverse to the first und second folds und to present said third :.,fold to Ithe closingl ''rippers of conveyor T4. As indicated in -`igzure Si, the sheet thus folded moves up?l wurdly und oveizth upper run of conveyer ownward-,ly at'the right endof said conveyor und along the lower run I thereof until it is registered by the stripping fingers or front gege S2 which may be adjusted with a, gripper operating cam. 83 by means of c crunk 84. The twice or thrice folded'sheet is 'thus brought; under a fourth folding binde 85 (see Figure carried b the spliced arms S6 which ere keyed to a roc shnfft 87. As the sheet is thus 'folded for the third or fourth time, it is'movod dovnwan-diy through afgap 86 and iii-to osif belts 81,5' an 'i 88 which move it downwardly between pressure rolls 89 and 90 to be delivered over 'the upper run of belts 87 on to e. ily 91 which, as shown in Figure 18, is mounted on e' rook .shaft 92 which also carries e/gealr 93 meshing, with a. gear segment 94. Sid ear segmenti:l 94 is carried. by a sleeve 95. s shown in Figure 3, the sleeve 95 is provided with a, Crank erm 96 which is connected by a rod` 98. A c-nm roller'99 on the inner .fece of said cam yoke runs on n, com 100 on the camshaft 102. As shown' vin Figline 18, a, pewl 103 which, is pivoted et 10 the gear segment 9-1 is adapted to o erste e ratchet 105 which is keyed toco shaft 106 f or driving e conveyor belt 1(17.

Referring to Figure 2, n. motor 108 is boltL ed to the moin frame of Ithe machine, said lmotor being provided with an armature shaft 109 -to which iskeyed u. pulley 110. A. belt 111 connects the pulley 110 to a. driven pulley 112 which is keyed to shaft 65. Saidy shurft G5A drives the third conveyer ,in the manner hereinbet'ore. pointed out. 'Keyed' to the shaft 65 is a. spur'ger 113 which meshes 'wi-tho geul*` 114 which., ns shown inhigure 8, is provided with en elongated hub ll'journalled .upon n stub shaft 1115,.. Rigidly mounted upon the'oute end ci huh 115 is a, l corn 117, said com being ure 2)'. Slidnble Within the slot 118 is e stud 119 (see Figure 8) vwhich is threaded into u. Cam plate 120. By loosening the stud 120 muy be edjusted angulerly -toweztch other so that 'the shnft 65 may be adjusted angulorly for the purpose of correlating the operations ol the the. second end third conveyeis including `the'seco'ml fold in the series of' performed upon the sheet. is show; Figure 8, the coin plate 12() is formed .une grally with s weve 121 which is' ourniiiled on the elongguM integral with tee sleeve 121 is spe 192 which meshes with u. geur 123 iej shetd upon which is freely ournn with. if?

un 'idler geur 12o which meshes 'es 1 und 6,

geur 11d. lis Shown in rigid which is idler 125 meshes with ingerir 1% keyed to the transverse shari-t 51. Eis show o in Figures 1 und 2, the elicit exten e across the machine and is provided adju cent the side freine fr with n geur 12T. Geur 127 meshes with un idler 128 which in turn meshes withe. seconl idler which transmits power to u third idler uit? meshing with .u geur 131 which is keyed to .the shuit 21 for drivin.; the first. coineyer. The second conveyor is driven dircfft lroin the 'frans verse shztit 51 which t mits power to the first conveyor. @pointingv upon the cuni plete 117 is o. cuni roller lila n inch is ourmilled in one erm et een: lever: i pivotul- 'ly mounted onl e 1 ud 151i und nuvi its' other erin pivotnlly connected to n roi. 195,

theupper end oli seid red -l xing pivotal#4 -lly.coinnected an infin 12315 wnir is keyed to rook shaft L11 und serves to import the osclletory movements `to the iii-st 'oldir d6. A cum lever 1311" whit-"i mounted on usted i238.

138 which operates i me ruin lot connecting rod. i-. one end pi connected tothe Quin. erm und its other end is pivotally conn which is ke ed to the. shui't 5&2 for import ing the esci lntoiy movements to the second .foldingolado 5ft.

By en inspection ot li igure 1, it will be seen that 'tiielslniiia 121 which is driven by the spur nur 123, is provided with e bevel pinion 11:1 which mes es rz/ith :3- berel geur 149. which is keyed to i. :durft 78 for driving .the lfonith @envoyer in the nimmer hereinbefore described. Referring new to Figure 16., the s spur gez-ir 113 which nie second idler 14h nie which is in mesh with :niet idler V19 transmits power u which drives 'the pressure l geur 153-1 which in 'with thwspnr geur l5() drives the pressure roll 90. seen from Figure i" .tiret the transverse shint 7S is provided on the cud opposite to getti 1'12, with u spur geur Geur is in mesh with u. spur geur 153 which. is il 'rel with u. sleeve 151- which carries e cuni 35.' The cuni .155 hun running,` Contact with n. anni roller 156 which mounted in n, lover .157 which is keyed to the rock "l 'Y` for osrfillutiug the fourth folding1 hl shown in Figure wheneioigi to onlit the fourth fold, the lfoldinb hub 115 oi geur 1111. .-ilso cted. to' on urni lilimay be rendered inoperative b v any suitable means not shown and the cam 83 andv front gage 82 adjusted to release the folded sheet to fall upon the upper run of the conveyer belts 88. `For this purpose, a section 156 of the plate. which normally constitutes a portion of the table for supporting the trail- The upper end of compression spring 161 ex-v erts a pressure ,on the gripper element or plunger 162 which projects above the upper" end ofthe hollow post 158. A gripper jaw 168 is adapted to cooperate with the yieldable jawf162, the several jaws 168 being mounted upon a. Vrock shaftlGt to be oper-r` ated in the manner liereinbefore pointed out.

1n the embodiment of my invention shown in Figures 24, and 26, a feed table 165 is provided with a sliding plate 168. De endingfromthe slidingA plate 168 is a. bloc 169 which carries' a laterally projecting pin 170v which is provided With a slidable bearing mounted inthe slot 171 in the upper end. of 'a lever arm 172 whch is mounted upon a roclifshaft 178. l,Keyed tothe shaft 1.73 isl ginie-.rm '174 which is connected by a rod 175 with one arm 176 of a. camlever pivoted.' on a stud 177, the other arm 178 of said cam leverbeing provided with a roller 179 which runs on'aeam -180 on a vcam shaft' 181. i .1- spring'182 holds the cam roller to the, cam

180. 'Keyed to 4rthe cam shaft 181 is a'second cam 182 upon which runs a cam roller 183 mounted in a cam arm 18-14for'oscillating the arms 185 v'liich carry the folding blade 186.* Said-folding blade is adapted to depress the folded edge of a sheet through the gap' 187 of the table 188 and into lhe bightof al pressure roller 188 and the/` eed ltapes 189. In this embodiment'of myl invention, a power drivenshaft 190 has keyed thereto laterally spaced sprockets 191 which drive the conveyer chains 192 forypropelling the sheet conveyingcarriages now to be described, thesprocket chains having driving engagement with each of said carriages. Referring to vFigures 25. and 26, each carriage comprises a fixed plateor bar 193 which carries a rod-1911. Pivotally connected to the plate 1.93 by`means--ofthe rody 5194 is a movable plate. 195, said mo'v-.ilile plate being acted upon by a spring 196 o n thegod 194i 95 v.for moving the plate 1.95 down into gripy position.

ping engagement with theplate 193 whenever the pressure which sei'iaratcs said plates is relaxed. Plates 193 and 195 are provided `with notches 197 and 198 which are stag? gered with rcspcctto similar notches formed in the forward edge of the reciprocatory sheet feeding plate 168. The movable pla-te 195 is provided with suitable grippers 199 which are arranged to correspond to the notches in the forward edge of the reciprovcatory feed plate. As the carriage is moved into-the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 25, a gear segment 200 which is rigidly connected with the movable plate 195 is brought into engagement with a. fixed segment 201 which revolves a cam arm 202' in an anti-clockwise direction until a cam roller 208 in the outer end of'said arm is brought into engagement with a fixed cam 204. As the grippers move upwardlyfto the upper run of the. conveyer chains and Y beneaththe reciproc-atory plate 168 in its rearward position, said plate moves forwardly'` with the forward edgeof the sheet vin position to be gripped. At they proper moment which is timed to correspond to the drop in cam 204, the cam roller 203 drops towards theshaft l190 and permits the springy 196 to effect a' rapid closing of thegripper jaws. 'The sh'ee't thus led olf is moved forwardly on the upper run. ofthe oonveyer around the forward end thereof, and4 rearwardly into position against the front edge gages 205. .At this stage of its progress, the gripper jaws are released by the cam' roller 203 striking acam 204 which may be adjusted in position by screw rods 205 provided with a 'crank 206. The driving connections comprise a gear 207, meshing with a. gear 208 and transmitting power by a train of gears 209, 210, 211 and 212 to a gear 213 which drives the feed tapesl 189. An idler'214 meshes with a lal'gcspur gear 215 for driving the cam shaftltil. AThe operation of my improved machine will be obvious from thedrawings.and the description licrcinbetoife given.

It will be observed that in the operation otthe improved machine above described, the sheet material is carried into the machine for the vfolding operation by *travelling gripper devices, which engage the forward edge vof the .sheet material and pull` ori drag the same by its leading edge into the desired In this operation, the position of the sheet material is gaged 'by registering devices operating upon the leading edge. This ,feeding operationl inafoldino machine is broadly new, and" by reason of` this difference in operation I am able to fold not los only 4the usual paper sheets but sheets of cloth or any textile fabrics including flat laundry articles such as towels, napkins, etc. The improved machine has been designed primarilyto perform the folding operationsv upon sheet materials without the use of the ordinary vfolding rollers, but I will have it understood that the sheet conveying or In adapting the machine to any one of its many uses, there is no change in principle, but only slight rearrangements of parts to suit the form of folding desired for the particular class. of Work.

, I claim l means for'gripping the front of a4 1. In a machine ofthe character."il'escribed, a travplingr conveyer provided lWith sheet, affolder blade past whcl sheet. is' conveyed by saidfront edgefsiieet ,gripping vmeans, means for operating/said slieegripping means to release the sheetand forV bringing the sheet'to rest in position to be folded byA said folderbladei-aad folded edge gripping means movablel -cenrinuously in 25 one direction past the'ffolder blade and cooperatin therewith'to .fld said slieet,'said folded e ge gripping means being suitably mounted .to convey said 'folded sheet away from said folding blade.

2. In a 'machine of the character described, the combination with a fixed sup` port for a sheet, of a folder blade arranged to fold a sheet at rest, travelling grippers movable from a position in which they close on the front'edge of a sheet on said support to a position in Which they release said sheet folder blade, a

in a position of rest to befolded by said front edge gage forxdetermining such position of rest, and a cam for operating said grippers to release said sheet, said front edge gage and gripper cam having a common adjustment to vary the linev of folding with respect to the forward edge' .of thc sheet.

3. In a machine of the character described, shcet gripping'mcans, means for lconveyngsaid sheet gripping means over a predetermined path of movement, other 'sheet gripping-means, means for conveying said other sheet gripping means over a predetermined path of movement, and a fold: ing blade past whiclrboth of said sheet grip* ping means are conveyed, said folding bladev cooperating with one, of said sheet gripping ,means for'folding asheet.

4. In a machine of the character described, 'a sheet .folding bladeypivotcd on a fixed' ai:is, a plurality of grippers arranged in a series, means for'moving vsaid grippers into* and out of position to cooperate with said folding blade .at periodic'intervals, a

secondv folding blade pivoted on a fixed axis distant-from :the lIIS", a second series.

Of empresa and .means for moving .th .awed si .gIPPefS latir and. mit.; at.

position to cooperate With said .Secoiid fold ing blade. l

- 5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a sheet folding blade arranged to fold a'sheet at rest,` a second folding blade' arranged'fto fold ,the folded sheet at rest, and folded edge 'gripping means movable froma position in which lit is o erated to grip the'foldededgc of the p sheet olded by the first -mentioned folding 1 bladeyto a position in 'which tjisLoperated*Vl .to release the, folded sheet inaposition of rest to be folded vby theseoondfmentioned folding blade.

6. ,In a machine of the., character described, sheet folding blades. arranged at a distance from .Seach other "and pivotally .mounted 'on iixedaxes, folded edge grippers cooperating with one of said foldingblades for folding a sheet, meansfor moving said .folded edge grippers from Ysheet-folding ol sition tovvard and past the other folding blade, means for gagingv the folded edge of the sheet and releasing the folded edge grip- ',pers for bringing the folded sheetto` rest in position to' be folded .by the/other folder blade, and means for operai;- g said folding blades. '2 -v 7 In a machine of the character described, the combination-with sheet folding l means adapted to resentthe folded edge of a sheet into a pre etermined position, sheet gripping means, means for moving the sheet gripping means-over .a predetermined path of movement to bring it into position to close upon said foldede'dge, means for closing said sheet gripping means, and means for coordinating the m'ovements of the sheet folding means and the means for moving said sheet gripping means for delivering the folded edge of a sheet at the instant said .gripping means closes, said` sheet gripping meansincluding a rock shaft provided With a gear pinion, an,` oscillatory segmentalgear travelling with sa'dsheet gripping means and meshing with saidgear pinion, and cams disposed along the ,path of said sheet gripping means for opening and closing said sheet gripping means, said segmental 'gear ,being provided yWith a cam arm adapted to be actuated by saidA cams.l

8. In a machine of the characterl described, the combination with sheet folding means, of a conveyer for positively gripping 'a slieet'and moving .it over a normal path into position to be operated, upon by siid folding means, means for registering'and. releasing a sheet from the sheet gripping "conveyer, and means fordelecting said sheet before it reaches folding position, said reg-- .1 25

. ist'ering and releasing mea-as'V being adjustsy Lable to a position. in.y Whiclit .Qigxrates.Said' Sheet gripping coxlvcyer.to'.release saidvshect,

fore Said vfllfet fchs; Position tofste folded. .tirarla alriimhiaeaaieaaa -sharicter deY ina seiibed,'the combination with sheet folding means, of a conveyer 'for positively grip-l ping a sheet and moving it over a normal path into position to be operated upon by said folding means, means for registering and releasing asheet from the sheet gripping conveyer, and means for delecting said sheet before it reaches folding position, said registering and releasing means being adjustable to a position in which it operates said sheet gripping conveyer to release said sheet before said s heet reaches position to be folded, said del'eeting means comprising a plate section ./norm'ally in position to have, a sheet conveyed thereover into sheet folding position and adapted to swing into a position across the normal path of said sheet to deflect it from said normal path. .v Y

10.*In -a machineof the character described, the combination with a sheet folding blade, of sheet gripping means ineluding a 'rock shaft for opening and closing said sheet gripping means,said rock shaft being yprovided .with agear pinion, an os-" eillatory gear meshing with said pinion and provided witlra cain arm, means for con! veying said gripping means into and voutof position to cooperate 'with said folding blade, and a cam disposed along the path of said sheet gripping means to engage said cam arin.

1l. In' a folding machine, the combination of sheet folding means, traveling sheet gripping means-including a'rock shaft provided with a gear pinion and an oscillatory gear meshing With. said gear pinion and provided with a cam arm, said sheet gripping means being adapted by its movement to be bronghtinto a position to receive the folded edge of a sheet folded by said sheet foldingmeans, and cams suitahlydisposed along the'path of said sheet gripping means and cooperating with said cam arm for opening' and closing said sheet gripping means. v

12. In a machine of the character described, the ycombination with a folding blade, of a traveling gripper for movinga sheet 'into position With respect-to said fold-l ing blade, a gage for determining the position of said sheet,and means for releas-A ing said sheet from the gripper depending upon the position of said gage.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination w'th a folding blade, of a travelling gripper for moving a sheet into position with respect to said folding blade, said gripper having relatively movable jaws, a cam ,for opening' and closing the jaws ofwsaid gripper, a gage for`determining theposition of said sheet `with respect to vsaid folding blade, and

means for simultaneousl)7 adjusting the positior of saideamand gage. i i

14. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a folding blade,of a traveling gripper for moving a sheet into position with respect to said folding blade, a transverse bar adjustable in the direction of the sheet feed, a front carried by said transverse bar, and vmeans mounted on said bar for opening said gripper. i

15. In amachine ,of the character described, means for conveying a sheet into suitable position to be folded and permitting it to come to rest in said position, means for folding said sheet and conveying it from said folding position, the last said means includin folded edge grippers, other 'folded edge grippers movable into and ont of position to grip the folded edge lof said sheet as it is released by the rst'mentioned folded edge grippers, and means for open'-` ing and closing said grippers to effect the transfer.

16. In a machine of the character described, sheet gripping means movable over a predetermined path, oscillatable sheet folding means adapted to present the folded edge of a sheet into the path of aid sheet gripping means, means for'moving the sheet gripping means into position to closeviipon said folded edge, means for closing said sheet gripping means, and means for coordinating the movements ofl the sheet folding means and the means for moving said sheet gripping means for delivering the folded edge of a sheetat the instant said gripping means closes.

In a machine of the character described, a folding blade, a front sheet gage for determining theposit-ion of a sheet with respect to said folding blade, a gripper for said sheet, and Ameans for conveying said grippe'rpast said front gage, said gripper j comprising relatively movable jaws and a v yieldably mounted sheet gripping element in one of said jaws, said front gage being provided witli means fo-r releasing said gripper.

18. In a machine of the character,` dcscribed, the combination with sheet-folding means, of sheet-gripping means engagingthe forward edge of a sheet and movable over a normal path forconveying said sheet into position tofbe folded by said sheetfolding means, means including a pivoted plate for supporting said sheet as it trails behind said gripping means, said plate being movable about its pivotal axis into a position to deflect said sheet from its normal path, `and means for operating said gripping means to release the sheet, said operating means being adjustable in position to release the vsheet 1n position to be folded or to be deflected Withoiitbein'g folded.

19. In' a machine of the character described,`

the combination of va sheet folding bladearranged to fold a sheet at rest, a second'foldf' ing 'olado arranged to told the ioldcd sheet at rest, and 'folded edge gripping means movable trein position in which it is operated to grip the vlolded edge ot" the sheet folded the iirst mentioned 'folding blade 'to a position in which it is operated to re.- lease the lolded sheet in a position ot rest to be i'oldcd by 'the second mentioned toldving blade, the lil-st mentioned folding blade and said iolded r je tripping nieans hav- ,ing coincident path. ot travel at the nionient the folded edge oi' a sheet is presented to said gripping means by the lirst mentioned folding blade.

Qt). lu a. machine ot the character described, a sheet supportr` front-erge sheet gripping means movable thru one run ot a closed path in a direction away from said sheet support, and afterwards thru a return rnno't said closed path, means for closing said gripping means on the forward edge of a sheet on said sheet support, means tor openinglsaid gripping means during said return movement for releasing said sheet, and means for folding said shoot as vit is displaced, from a position of rest in which it is left by said gripping means.

2l. lin a machine of the character described., a sheet support, front-edge sheet gripping means movable thru one run of a 'closed path in a direction away from 'said sheet suppe t, and afterwards thru a return run ot said closed path, means for closing said gripping means on the forward edge of a sheet. on said sheet support, means tor opening said gripping means during said return movement tor releasing said sheet, and means for olding said sheet as it is displaced 'trom a position ot rest in which it is lett by said gripping .ine-rais, said 'folding means including a folding blade which traverses the path t said sheet tiring the return` run ot said gripping means.

ln a machine' oli the character described, a sheetsupport, 'front-edge sheet gripping means movable thru one run ot a closed path in adirection away 'trein said sheet support, and afterwards thr-u a return run of said closedA path, means tor closing said gripping means on the forward edge of a sheet on said sheet support, means for .opening said gripping means duringsaid 'return movement for ri'ileasing said* sheet, a :folding blade which operates upon said sheet in the position ot rest in which it is n LL lettby said grippinf-r means, Iand a itoldedl edge grippe movable into and out of position to cooperate with said 'folding blade i'or folding said sheet.

255i. lin a machine .ojt the character described, a sheet-tolding blade, a front edge gripper 'for moving a sheet into sheet-tolding position with. respect te said blade, means 'for operating said gripper to release a sheet-1n position to be 'Folded or in another position before the sheet reaches tolding position, a sccondmfront edge-,gripper traveling in a path which partly coincides with the path ot the lirst mentioned gripper, said second grippe-r being adjustable to cooperate with said folding blade in one position for i'olding the sheet and with the first front edge gripper in the other position for transferring the sheet,vand nieans loroperating the second front edge gripper to close on said sheet in either of said positions to which the second gripper is adjustable.

Qt. ln a machine ot' the character dcseribed, a sheet-folding blade, a front edge gripper? for moving a sheet into sheet-folding position with respect to said blade, moans lor operating said gripper to release a sheet in position to be Jfolded lor in another position before the sheet reaches folding position, a second Jfront edge gripper traveling in with the path ot the irst mentioned gripper, said second gripper being adjustable to cooperate with said folding blade in one position for folding the sheet and with the first front edge gripper in the other position for transferring the sheet, and means for. operating the second front edge gripper to close onsaid sheet in either of said positions to which the second gripper is adjustable, the last said means comprising a cam tor operating the second front edge gripper in one of said positions and a removable cam for operating Ithe gripper in the other of said positions. i

25. ln a machine of the character described, the combination With a sheet-folding blade, of sheet conveying means including grippers arranged in transverse series to grip the folded edge ot'a sheet ,as it is folded and presented by said folding blade, other sheet conveying means including grippers arranged in transverse series to grip the folded edge ot/said sheet, the transverse series ot grippers of both conveying nicans having portions ot' their paths coincident, and moans-for simultaneously opening one series of grippers and closing the other scrifes of grippers to transfer the folded sheet from one conveyor tothe other, while said /grippers are passingr thru said coincident portions ot their paths.

j 2G. 1n a machine of the character described, the combination with a sheet- ;tolding blade, lof .sheet conveying'nieans in-l cluding grippcrs arranged in transverse serics to grip the forward odge of a sheet, each ot said grippors having relatively movable jaws and'one of said jaws being provided with yieldable elements whereby thc gripper is adapted to yieldably engage a sheet under a' diminishing prcssurefor a briefly -extended interval after the opening movement of said gripperslhas begun, means for opening said` grinners at a predetermined 8'5 a path which partly coincides lltl point in their travel, and sheet-gaging means for strippingl said sheet from the grippers under such diminishing pressure.

2T. The combination with a sheet. support, of sheet-gripping means ritrav'elling in a Closed path including a'! run extending away from the forward extremity of said sheet support, said sheet-gripping means being adapted to grip the forward edge of a sheet on said sheet supportv sheet-folding means aast which said sheet-ri in means drags said sheet into positron to be folded by said sheet-folding means, means forgaging the forward edge of said sheet for registering Iit with respect to said folding means, and

means for operating said sheet-gripping means to release the forward edge of Said sheet when it reaches sheet-folding position,v i l -2b. In3 a machine of 4the character" described, the combination of a sheet folding blade arranged to fold a sheet at rest, folded edge gripping means movable into and out of` a position-to grip the folded edge imparted bysaid folding blade, other folded edge gripping means movable over a path vincluding la portion which is tangential 'to the path of the lirst mentioned folded edge gripping means, and means for cooperatively operating the-first and second mentioned folded edgegrippers whereby the folded edge is released by the yfirst mentioned fold? ed edge gripping means and gripped bythe second mentioned folded edge gripping means.

29. In a machine of the. character described, the combination of a sheet folding blade arranged to fold a sheet at rest, folded 'edge gripping means movable into and out of a position to grip the folded edge imparted partly coincident With by said folding blade,other folded edge ping means movable over, a ypath having a' portion thereof coincident with a'portion ofA the path' traveled by the first mentioned l folded edge gripping means, means for eooperatively'v operating both folded ledge gripping -means whereby the folded edge 1s released by the first mentioned folded edge gripping means and mentioned folded edge gripping means; a folding blade past which the second mentioned folded edge gripping means extends,

and means for operatingthe second lmengripped by the second fold grip-- in a position of rest to be folded by the seoond mentioned .folding blade7 other folded edge gripping means movable over a path partly coincident With the path of the first mentioned folded-edge ripping means and the path of said second mentioned folding blade, and means for operating the first mentioned; folded edge grippers either in a` position to deliver the.

once folded sheet dieetlyto thesecond mentioned folded edge grippers or 1n a vposition to release the once folded sheet to come to rest in position to be Ifolded again by the second mentioned foldin blade.

EALgRL D. BADER. 

